NATIONAL REPORT—Every hotel owner is required to provide exit signage throughout the hotel. Many exit signs today use incandescent and fluorescent/compact fluorescent lighting technology. These older signs consume more than 350 kilowatt-hours and cost $28 each annually to operate. They also require frequent maintenance because of the short life span of the lamps that light them. Thanks to light-emitting diode (LED) technology, hoteliers need not spend as much money on energy and maintenance. Many manufacturers today sell exit signs that incorporate LED lighting that are easy to install and maintain. These exit signs start at about $40 a...

NATIONAL REPORT—Everyone is familiar with Motel 6’s “We’ll leave the light on for you” campaign. It was definitely a hit. What is not such a good idea is when your guests leave the light on for you. Research conducted several years ago through the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research Program confirmed what most hotel operators already know: Many guests leave the lights on when they leave the room and use the bathroom lights as a night-light. You can’t blame your guests, especially seniors, for wanting the extra light but when the lights are on when nobody is there, or...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics International Inc. introduces its PFT (Plug-in Compact Fluorescent Tube) family of products. The PFT lamps are pin-based compact fluorescent lamps. PFT lamps are available with a two-pin starter—integral to lamps with magnetic ballasts. Litetronics’ other models have a four-pin starter for use with electronic ballasts. The two-pin PFT lamps have a 10,000-hour average rated life. Litetronics’ four-pin lamps have 15,000-hour average rated life. When compared to incandescent bulbs, PFT lamps can use 80 percent less energy and last 13 times as long. Compared to other compacts, the four-pin PFT lamps offer a 33 percent longer life....

NATIONAL REPORT—This article will provide hoteliers with a relatively comprehensive guide to take advantage of the most cost-effective way to save lighting energy and perhaps improve the quality of the hotel’s perceived product. Before starting on this project, go to a Grainger’s Equipment Supply store and purchase a $30 General Electric light meter. This meter reads light levels in increments referred to as “foot-candles.” For those in Europe, the meter will measure using a different scale referred to as “lux.” A foot-candle is a unit of measure of the intensity of light falling on a surface equal to...

ALSIP, ILL.—Litetronics introduces its new 2850K Pure White family of Micro-Brite lamps. The Pure White 2850K, when added to the 2700K and 4000K, gives Micro-Brite users a full array of bright choices to use when replacing incandescent lamps. Micro-Brite lamps can last up to 25,000 hours and save 80 percent or more in energy costs compared to incandescent lamps. The long life reduces maintenance and lamp replacement costs, which is a plus in today’s economy. Unlike standard fluorescents, most Micro-Brite lamps are dimmable using any standard incandescent wall dimmer, making them suitable for almost any lighting situation....

NATIONAL REPORT—When looking to slash energy costs, chances are a hotel operator will not think of signage first. However, with advances in light emitting diode (LED) technology, signage is not a bad place to start. LEDs offer an 80 to 90 percent energy efficiency gain, last much longer than neon and fluorescent lighting, and require much less maintenance. Valley View, Ohio-based GELcore LLC, a joint venture of GE Lighting and Emcore Corp., is one vendor that offers LED systems for a variety of hospitality applications. Areas where their products can be used include outdoor and indoor channel letter...

SCHAUMBURG, IL.—The Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co. has launched its new patented Evolution Bulb. The compact fluorescent is available in 11, 14, 20 and 25 watts and in both soft white (2700K) and full-spectrum (5,500K—similar to natural sunlight for optimal color rendering and color temperatures. Go to Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co. or write to rms@aerolights.com for more information.

NATIONAL REPORT—Advances have made compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) more attractive to the lodging industry than when they first appeared, and prices have come down, but are they still a good value? Absolutely, say hoteliers and the companies that make CFLs. “The quality is excellent,” says Gabrielle Boose, CFL product manager for GE Consumer & Industrial, Lighting, Cleveland, Ohio. “A while back there were a lot of entries into the market, and their quality was questionable. But the market has weeded them out.” Boose says today GE’s CFLs have a finish similar to incandescents. Brightness and...